Terminal independent personal telephone services

Abstract

The invention provides a communication system comprising a network infrastructure and a plurality of telephone terminals. The telephone terminals can be conventional telephones. The network infrastructure includes a control center with an associated database, which stores data corresponding to telephone numbers allocated to subscribers. The database also stores respective subscriber identity codes. A user of the system can use any conventional telephone to access the system and enters a predetermined access code, their telephone number and their identity code. If the entered information is validated, the network maps the subscriber's telephone number to the telephone in use, which is effectively converted temporarily to the subscriber's own personal telephone.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] THIS invention relates to a method of operating a communication system comprising a network infrastructure and a plurality of telephone terminals. The invention further relates to such a communication system itself and to data storage tokens for use in the method and system. [0002] Despite the provision of fixed telephone terminal (landline) facilities to a significant proportion of the population, and the adoption of mobile telephones by significant numbers of users, large numbers of people do not have access to a personal telephone service and are at best reliant on public telephones or the use of telephones belonging to others. This is not only unsatisfactory for the affected individuals, but also has the effect that they are to a large extent uncontactable by others via existing telephone systems. [0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a method and system which address this situation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] According to the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] Alternatively, or in addition, the subscriber may have a data storage token storing a credit value, the telephone terminal being operable to read the credit value from the token, to enable the telephone terminal if the credit value exceeds a predetermined value, and to reduce the credit value according to the cost of the calls made.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the provision of fixed telephone terminal (landline) facilities to a significant proportion of the population, and the adoption of mobile telephones by significant numbers of users, large numbers of people do not have access to a personal telephone service and are at best reliant on public telephones or the use of telephones belonging to others.

This is not only unsatisfactory for the affected individuals, but also has the effect that they are to a large extent uncontactable by others via existing telephone systems.

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